Physical Activity

Leisure-Time Physical Activity Index

The Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines recommend that children and youth get at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) daily and adults get at least 150 minutes of MVPA per week, made up of time periods lasting at least 10 minutes.

According to the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) collected between 2011 and 2013, 9% of Canadian children 5-17 years and 22% of Canadian adults (18-79 years) met the physical activity guidelines when directly measured through an activity monitor that they wore for one week.

The leisure-time physical activity index is a frequently used indicator of physical activity at the population level. This index is based on responses to a series of questions about the nature, frequency and duration of participation in leisure-time physical activity. While this index does not provide a complete picture of physical activity, it does provide useful information on how active different groups are relative to one another and may help identify trends in physical activity in the population over time.

According to the 2014 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) conducted by Statistics Canada, 56% (50.8%, 60.2%) of Simcoe Muskoka residents (12+) were considered active or moderately activity based on the leisure-time physical activity index. The proportion of the population that is considered active or moderately active in Simcoe Muskoka had been significantly higher than the provincial levels each year from 2003 to 2012; however, for both 2013 and 2014 the Simcoe Muskoka and provincial rates were not significantly different from each other.

By Age Group

Leisure-time physical activity decreases with age. In 2013-2014 among the Simcoe Muskoka population (12+), approximately three-quarters (77% (66.9%, 84.2%)) of youth (12-19 years) were active or moderately active compared with less than half (47% (41.7%, 51.7%)) of seniors (65+ years). Leisure time physical activity in Simcoe Muskoka was similar to the province as a whole for all age groups.

Leisure-time physical activity increases with higher levels of education. In 2013-2014 among Simcoe Muskoka adults 25 to 64 years, those with a University degree or higher were significantly more active than those with a high school education or less (72% (63.6%, 79.9%) vs. 49% (40.6%, 57.3%)). Leisure time physical activity among those with a University degree or higher was significantly higher in Simcoe Muskoka when compared to the province as a whole.

Leisure-time physical activity increases with higher levels of income. In 2013-2014 among the Simcoe Muskoka population (12+), those in the highest income quintile were significantly more active than those in the lowest income quintile (70% (62.9%, 75.8%) vs. 48% (41.1%, 55.4%)). Leisure time physical activity in Simcoe Muskoka was similar to the provincial average for all levels of household income.